Roller-press.



'140. 699,4'. Patented Apr. 29,1902.

E. REAGAN. f y

ROLLER PRESS.

(Apblication filed My 16, 1901.) u. w dem s sheets-sheet r.'

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No. 699,|l4. Patented Apr.f29, |902.

E. HEAGAN.

ROLLER PRESS.

(Application med may 1s, 1901.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

juh@ l' d jgjw E. REAGAN. ROLLER PRESS.

(Application filed May 16, 1901.) (No Model.) 8 Shets-Sheet 3.

Patented Apr. 29, |902.

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No. 699,||4. Patented Apr. 29, |902.

E. REAGAN;

ROLLER PRESS. v (Application filed May 16, 1901.) '(No Model.) 8Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 699,||4. Patented Apr. 29, i902.

E. BEAGAN.

ROLLER PRESS.

(Application filed May 16, 1901.,

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 5. v

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No. 699,II4. Patented Apr. 29, |902.

y E. REAGAN.

ROLLER PRESS.

(Application `1ed May 16, 1901. l (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

no. 699,|4. PatentedApr. 29, |902.

K E. REAGAN.

n'oLLEB PRESS.

(Application led Hay 16, 1901.) (llo Model.) 8 SheetsSheet -7.

rIlly me Normas PETERS co.. Puo'o-Llmo.. wAsHmGYoN, u c.

No. 699,||4. Patented Apr, 29,1902` E. BEAGAN.

BoLLEn PRESS.

(Application lsd Hay 16, 1901..) l f (No Model.) 8 Sheets- Sheet a, l

PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR REAGAN, OF FLORESl/fI-Llglil, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOWILBUR BRUFF, OF FLORESVILLE, TEXAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,114, dated April29, 1902.A

I Application filed May 16, 1901. Serial No. 60,478. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it .may concern:

zen of the Uni-ted States, residingat Flores:` ville, inthe county ofWilson, State of Texas,

have invented certain new and useful Im-f thegeneraldesign and mannerofassembling the partsof the press, whereby th'e structure is mademore compact, lighter, and is given greater strength and capacity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roller-press whichwill. relieve frictional contact between the cotton `and4 press whilethe bale is inv process of formation, provided With a gearing which willalways insure for the movable pressingrollers a speed correspondingexactly with the speed of the stationary pressing-rollers.

' A further object is to provide. means for automatically increasingthepressure of the movable pressing-rollers as the bale increases indiameter. J

A further object is to provide means for facilitating the formation ofthe bale by dispensing with the necessity of employing a mandrel Aorcore for the bale.'` L

A further object is'A to provide a conductor for the bale-covering,whereby an end-ofthe covering for a bale is presented directly betweenthe bale and the stationary pressingrollersand is adapted to be fedevenly and uniformly under tension from said'conductor.

and operation of presses, all as will be'n'ow dethe press. 4is averticalsection' on the line cc, Fig. 1,

A`'ingits connection with the end frame.

y 1 f: A. scribedpandpointed out particularly in the Be it known that I,EDGAR REAGAN,1a citi;AV

appended claims.

#l Referringfto the accompanying drawings,

denser and the accumulatorin the act of sepa rating the bat to permit ofthe tying o of a completed bale. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 3 isan end elevation. Fig.

looking toward the left. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken in theplaneof the axisof the bale. Fig. 6 is an elevation looking at the rearend of the 1nac hine,'tl 1e drive-shaft bea ing broken'away.' 'fFigf'fis'a detail top plan ofthe accumulator. Fig. 8 is a top plan ofthe clutch, pinion, and segment for reversing the accumulator. Fig. 9 isa detail section, on an enlarged scale, of the accumulator-roll. Fig. 10is a detail of the bagging-clamp and its controlling-handle. Fig. 11 yisa detail section through one end of a side bar, show- Fig. .12' isadetail horizontal section of the feedroller.'A Fig. 13 is a sideelevation of the tubular union G2; and Fig. 13a, an end View thereof,showing one of the flanged ends removed. yFig. 14 is a side elevation ofthe pressure-cylinder, and Fig. 14. an end view thereof. Figs. 15, 15:Lare detail views showing side elevations of the stationary rollerframes.

Theimain frame of the press consists, essentially, of four .tubularstringers-o'r side pieces A, united' at their front ends by arectangular cross-frame B,N preferably having downward extensions b,constituting feet or supports. At the rear ends the top and bottom sidepieces are connected by upright frames extensions b. J ust insidel the`frame C the side pieces support other verticalA frames,

`which may 'be convenientlyV termed roller- C, having extensions o,corresponding to the frames D D, (shown in Figs. 15,15%) prefer- 95 ablyfixed on the side pieces and united to bolted toV the Banged bearingextensions d on the framesy D, as shown in Figs. 2 and G.

Suitable transverse bearings are formed in the framesD for supportingthe two stationary pressing-rollers E, such rollers receiving motionthrough gear-wheels E', carried at one end of the roller-shafts and bothmeshing with an intermediate gear E2 on an intermediate drive shaft E3,passing through the union Dl and at its opposite end carrying arelatively large bevelgear E, adapted to mesh with a bevel-gearf on themain driveshaft F.

The two movable pressing-rollers G are journaled in frames G',preferably castings, and having concave seats g", formed therein for thereception of the top and bottom side pieces, as will be best understoodby reference to Fig. 4. These movable roller-frames are preferablyconnected by a tubular union G2, corresponding to the union D, butpreferably connected with the frames G in such manner as to be capableof affording aslight sidewise play-as, for instance, by forming thebolt-holes in the flanged ends g2 of the union G2 somewhat elongated orof larger diameter than the bolts, as shown in Fig. 13% The flanged endsg2a bear against fianges g3, fixed to the inner-sides of frames G', asshown in Fig. 4, and the latter flanges have boltholes which registerwith the holes 92C.

The movable pressing-rollers are driven by a gearing corresponding tothe gearing for the xed rollers-that is to say, they have gear-wheels g,mounted on their shafts at one end and meshing with an intermediate gearg', carried by an intermediate shaft g2, extending through the union G2and carrying at its opposite end a large bevel-gear f 3, meshing with a.gear g4, adapted to be driven by the drive-shaft F. This drive-shaft Fis journaled in yoke-shaped projections D5-and G5 on the sides of framesD and G', respectively, and in order toimpart rotation to the gear g4with the frame G5 atany point of adjustvment the shaftis preferablysquared throughout a portion of its length, as at F', and the gear-wheelis formed with a corresponding openingthrough which the shaft passes.The shaft F receives its rotation from a large gear F2, with which asmall gear F3, connected with the fast pulley of the fast and loosebeltpulleys F4, meshes. The pulleys and gearwheel F3 are mounted in aswinging frame FG, having the drive-shaft as an axis, whereby it mayadjust itself to a counter-shaft in any position with relation to thepress and also take up any slack in the belt. The movablepressing-rollers are advanced, retracted, or held up with the desiredpressure by steam-power. For this purpose a cylinder I-I is employed,said cylinder being journaled on vertical trunnions 71. in the end frameB, as shown in Fig. 3, while the piston or ram H takes its bearingagainst a central boss or flange h on the union G2, which latter, asbefore stated, may have a slight rocking movement by means of theelongated boltholes in its fian ged ends. With this construction slighttwist or pivotal action of the rolls,

especially should the bale be slightly irregular, is compensated forwithout straining the frame or causing side wear in the gland or on thepiston, as will be readily understood.

The bale is adapted to be formed between the four pressing-rollers andalso between fiat heads or disks, which give shape and prevent frictionto the ends of the bale. These heads or disks (lettered I in thedrawings) are journaled to rotate in a sliding frame K, mounted betweenthe top and bottom side pieces, and they are adapted to be advanced orwithdrawn, so as to be in position to form the bale ends or so as torelease the formed bale by hand-wheels I', the hubs t'of which (see Fig.5) are threaded into the frames K and in turn constitute the bearings inwhich the heads rotate. Thus while the heads are free to rotate with thebale as it is formed or pressed they may be quickly and easily retractedto release the formed bale and as quickly set up again for the formationof a new bale.

One of the objects of the present invention is to dispense with the useof a core or mandrel about which to form a bale. To accomplish thisobject, it is highly desirable that the axis of the heads shouldcoincide at all times with the axis of the bale. In the present pressthe axis of the heads is maintained at a point equidistant between thepressingrolls by journaling on the hubs of the handwheels or headsequalizngbars or levers L and connecting theends of these bars orlevers, by means oflinks L', with the xed frame on the one hand and withthe frame of the movable rollers on the other hand. From this it followsthat the heads are moved positively and maintained at all times inproper position concentric with the bale. Even in the initial stages offormation the heads are correctly positioned, and as the cottonaccumulates between the rollers and pressure is exerted against theheads they begin to rotate and aid in supporting the bale during thesubsequent stages of its formation.

The frames D are provided at the top with upward extensions havingvertical slot-bearings D therein for the reception of the journals of afeed-roller M, preferably held down against the top presser-roller bysprings m, located above the journals and the tension of which may beregulated by set-screws-m'. The feed-roller M is hollow and its innerends are adapted to receive heads M M. The shaft M2 of said roller ishollowed at each end and provided with ports M3, opening into theinterior of said roller, aiordin g communication therewith throughsuitable swivel connections (not shown) with the exhaust of thepressure-cylinder, whereby the exhaust-steam is passed, by means of asuitable hose or pipe, (not shown,) to and through the cylinder, heatingit, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned.

The cotton-bat is fed in over the table N by means of an endless beltN', which at the taneously passesit down vbetween the fourpressing-rollers under pressure, excluding the forward end 'passesaround a roller N2, journaled in proximity tothe roller M. The tworollers M and N2 therefore insure thefeeding' ofthe bat to thepressing-rollers, and the roller M,Wrkin'gwith considerable pressureagainst the top' pressing-roller, subjects the'bat to a preliminarycompression, heats it, and simulair as the bat is pressed into baleform.

The cotton-bat is supplied from the conf denser continuously,'and as thebale reaches the desired size' and weight an accumulator.

the machina accumulator consists ofl f a roller O, having teeth in oneside so setthatl when the roller'is dropped down on the bat said teethwill `pick-the batlup and separate that portion from the precedingportion, as

shownin'Fig. l, The belt continuing tomo-ve causes theaccumulator-'roller to rotate andV windthe bat about it until lthe pressis ready for the formation of a' newbale,wheri therollerl is raised andthe bat allowed to `i'eed'forward` under the roller until itis caughtby'the roller M and fed'downbetween the pr'ejssing-rolls.v

. Thev pull thus given 'to the bat Ion the accuf mulator-roll gives theroll a reyerse rotation,v

causing it to discharge its bat, which feeds along ontop ofthemainfbatandis incorpo` rated into the bale.

Various mechanisms may be employed for securing the reversero'tationiofthe accumulator-rollgf but 1 prefer to reverse the position of theroller end forend andallow it to drop down onto the bat and belt, whenit will unwind itscotton and layit smoothly on the" mainbat.

For the purposeof handling the accumulator-roll inthis'way it isjournaled in aU- shaped frame P, centrally journaled at pon a secondAframe P the latterI 'in turn being journaled in` brackets P2, secured tothe belttable or other suitable support.

If'the frame P"be turnedf up, the frame P and accumulator-roll maybe'turned end for end and again lowered,l and I prefer' to em? ploymechanism for raising the frame and automatically reversing the roller.The means forraising the frarnePf consists of a pulley p, secured totheframel"v and connected by a loose belt pf with a 'pulley p? on theend of the cross-shaft E3 Witha tightener p3, whereby the pulley p 'maybelpartially rotated and the frameraised'by simply 'tightening thebelli. l l

' The frame P supports a cross-shaft Q, held against rotation bybrackets 1', and this shaft pinion Q3 on a shaft Q4,'connected`fa'xially with the frame P,' is adapted to m`esh. The, pinionQ3 is loose on th'eV shaft Q4 and is adapt- The clutch is formed by asimple ratchet-collarQ5; keyed to the shaft' and held-in mesh with aratchet-face on the pinion bya sprigtQ. With this' construction thelupwar'dl move# mentor swing of the frames P and P causes thepinionto'engage the segment and the framePv to rotate a half-turn; but as theframes descend the ratchet connection prevents frame P'fromrotatingreversely,and consequently the roller isE reversed end'for end. To againcause the roller to engage and accumulate the bat', it is/ag'ainreversed, only this time it'is reversed while 'empty.""It' will beunderstood that the 'teeth are so pointed or shaped that they will2engragethe bat when the'roller is in one position,'but Will'draw out ofv'and not pick up the bat when the roller is intheother position."

j. Baggig for 'coyering the bale'is supplied from-a reelconvenientlyarrangedwith A'ref- 'erence to the` 4machine and passesthrough clampingjaws R on the ends of arms R,j`our' jnaled in bracketsR2 on'the side frames, adapt# ed to be oscillated by'ah'and-le R3. Theendet the bagging R4 dependsfrom the clamp, and as thebale is finished*the clamps fare delpressed,allowing the end lofthe baggingbtrl beicaught between the` baley and'uppe'rjroll of the stationary rolls, asshown 'in-Fig; j1-,f and drawnaround .thebalebythe action of theffourpressing-rolls. YAsrthe clamps areunder tension, the bagging is heldtautjan'd the rollsthereforedraw it'tig'htlyfaround theL bale. Whenthebale has completed 'a4 revolution, the clamps are elevated to-draw out anew 'depending' portion andthev bagging se'vf- 'ered. The twoends on thebale are now fastened together, whenk thebale is jready to bedischarged, which Yis'done by turning the ing the pressure-rollersjbak-IOO even shouldfthe vc'ontrol'-'valves be opened to`I kBy reference toFig. 11 it will be seen that the side barsl are connected ywithvtliejend frames' by being let yinto sockets therein, the Sidebars'bengshoulderedat wjand the' whole frame 'is' held together bytie-rods tu,extending through the sidebars and' having hers or disksand'fnutswgapplied-to theirends outside fjthe end frames; t

To'insure the parallel advance dft'he mbfv iab'lerollers, the frames Gmay be providedl 4with downward extensions `Y, adapted It`o iformbearings for a cross-shaftYQfon which shaftgear-wheels or pinions Y2 arerigidly mounted. These pinions Y2 mesh in racks YS, secured to the underside bars A and serve, as j ust stated, to insure the parallelism of therollers in their back-and-forth movements.

It will be seen that the tubular unions D and G2 aiford a housing forthe shafts E3 and g2, making the bearings dust-proof, the frame morecompact by utilizing the shafts as crossties, and also facilitatesseparating the parts for shipment or for access thereto for purposes ofcleaning, repair, or renewal.

In operation steam is admitted to the rear end of the cylinder by movingthe bar S' in the proper direction, thereby bringing thepressing-rollers together', and in the formation of the bale the elastictension of the steam in the rear end of the cylinder determines thedensity ofthe bale,for in the formation of the bale the movablepressing-rollers are forced back against the pressure of the steam inthe cylinder. The bat is fed in over the table N', down between thefeed-rollers,'.and into a space or pocket formed between the fourpressing-rollers, where it is rolled into a cylindrical mass which isconned at the ends by the movable heads I. As the size of the baleincreases and the movable pressing-rollers retreat the heads moveproportionately through the described connections, whereby the centersof the heads are maintained in alinement with the axis of the bale atall times. The bale having reached the desired size,the accumulator-rollO is lowered into engagment with the bat, or if it has been runningincontact therewith in inoperative position it is reversed, so as to causeits teeth to catch or engage the bat, sever it, and by contact with thebelt be rotated, so as to wind the bat about itself. The portion of thebat forward of the point of severance winds in about the bale, and whencompletely wound in the bagging-clamp is 10W- ered, permitting the endof the bagging to catch between the upper roller of the stationaryrollers and the bale which draws the bagging in contact with the otherpressingrollers and so around the bale. At this moment the operation ofthe pressing-rollers is stopped byshifting'the driving-belt orotherwise, the bagging severed, and the ends united by sewing orfastening. This completes the formation of the bale in the machine, andthe movable pressing-rollers may be backed o by admitting steam to theforward end of the cylinder-and the bale released by backing 0E theheads I through the medium of the hand-wheels I I, when it may beremoved from the press. In the meantime the bat has been accumulating onthe accumulator-roll, and when the pressing-rolls have been broughttogether belt p is tightened, thereby raising the accumulator-frames PP', and by the engagement of the gear-wheel Q3 and segment Q2 the framel) and the accumulator-roll and the bat carried thereby are givena-halftl1rn bodily and lowered into operative position, when theaccumulator-.will unwind its bat on top of the bat which is being fedforward by the belt. Thus the two layers of bat are conducted by thebelt to the feedrollers. After the accumulatorroller is relieved of itsbat it may be slightly raised, or, if desired, allowed to continue torun in contact with the bat in inoperative positionthat is, with theteeth so inclined that they will not engage with or catch the bat. Asthe bat is passed down between the four pressing-rollers the Aroller Mheats it suiciently to soften the liber and adapt it to pack closerunder the pressure of the pressing-rolls as they simultaneously wind thebat under pressure into the bale.

The headsl support the ends of the bale during its formation, and beingrevoluble as soon as the pressure of the sides or edges of the bat issufiicient to cause frictional contact with the heads it causes them torevolve with the winding bat during formation of the bale, and thusprevent friction and injury to the fiber at the ends of the bale.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a roller-press, the combination with the pressing-rollers mountedrin fixed bearings, the cooperating rollers mounted in movable bearings,means for holding the movable rollers against backward movement with ayielding pressure and means for feeding a bat to said rollers, of headsbetween which the bale is formed,.sliding frames in which said heads arejournaled, equalizing bars connected with the frames for positioning theheads and frames, and links 'connecting opposite ends of the bars withthe iixed and movable roller-frames respectively; substantially asdescribed.

2. In a roller-press, the combination with the pressing-rollers mountedin fixed bearings, the coperating rollers mounted in movable bearings,means for holding the movable rollers with a yielding pressure and meansfor feeding a bat to the rollers, of heads between which the bale isformed, sliding frames in which the heads are j ournaled, hand-wheelshaving screw-hubs for withdrawingsaid heads from engagement with thebale, equalizingbars pivotally connected with the frame, and linksconnecting opposite ends of said bars IIO with the lixed and movableroller-frames,

4. In a roller-press for forming cylindrical bales, the combination withthe side bars, vertically-extending frames carrying the pressing-rollerssupported by the side bars and having yoke-shaped vprojections extendingto one side of said bars, of a drive-shaft journaled in the yoke-shapedprojections,pinions on said drive-shaft and gear-wheels for driving `therollers, located on the inner side of the yokeshaped projections andmeshing with said pinions; substantially as described.

5. In a roller-press for forming cylindrica bales, the combination withthe main frame, the sliding roller-frame mounted thereon and the rollersjournaled in said sliding frame, of the power-cylinder mounted onvertical trunnions, and the piston working in said cylinder with apivotal connection between the piston Vand sliding frame; substantiallyas described. Y

6. In a roller-press for forming cylindrical bales, the combination withthe main frame, the sliding roller-frame mounted thereon and having theunion loosely connected therewith to have a Y limited oscillation in avertical plane, andthe rollers journaled in said rollerframe, ofthepower-cylinder mounted on vertical trunnions, and the Vpiston working insaid cylinder andY connected with the said union; substantially asdescribed.

7. In a roller-press adapted to receive a bat directly from the gin, thecombi-nation with the pressing-rollers and means for actuating frame inwhich said roll is mounted pivoted on a center at right angles to theaxis of the roll, a second frame on which said first frame is pivotedand bearings for supporting said second frame on an axis parallel withthe axis of the roll; substantially as described.'

l 9. lIn a roller-press adapted to receive a bat directly from the gin,an accumulator-roll, a frame in which said rollis mounted pivoted-on acenter at right angles to the axis of the roll, a second frame on whichsaid rst frame is pivoted, mounted to turn on anl axis parallel with theaxis of the roll and a reversing mechanism for the roll embodying apinion corinected with the roll-frame and agear-segment with which saidpinion meshes,'wherebythe roll may be simultaneously elevated andVreversed; substantially as described. j

l0. In a roller-press for forming cylindrical bales, the combinationwiththe pressing-rollers between which ythe bale is formed, of a clampthrough which the bagging is fed Aextending parallel with thepressing-rolls interposed between the bagging-supply reel and the baleand vin position to drop a depending end to be caught by the rolls anddrawn around the -bale 5 lsubstantially as described. Il. In aroller-press for forming cylindrical bales, the combination withthepressing-rollers and means for actuatingthe same, of a bagging-clamp4consisting of jaws between which the bagging is drawn, pivoted arms onwhich said jaws are mountedand a handle y EDGAR REAGAN.

. Witnesses:

L. P. BECKER, J. M. TIPTON.L

